Monday, May 31, 2010

“Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan’s band playing a crucial gig and Aura’s plan for an intimate after-party Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan’s sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He’s gone.

Well sort, of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and talk to ghosts. This mysterious ability had always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she could undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because Dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn’t help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding – and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura’s relationship with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura’s heart… and clues to the secret of the Shift.” – Book Cover

Teenage hood as we know it is already hard enough, what if they could all see ghost on top of it? That’s what every kid born after the winter solstice of 1994 have to deal with. Born that way, kids learn to cope with, but this new reality becomes a whole new challenge when Aura’s boyfriend, Logan, dies from a heart faillure at his birthday party. Loosing a loved one is already a painful experience, but add the fact that you can still see him, but not touch him? Kiss him? It’s down right cruel. How will Aura live with the not-so-death of her boyfriend? To spice up things a little (yeah it needed even more spice *winks*), Zachary entered Aura’s life with his good looks and his to-die-for accent, he might have answers she has been seeking for and he might even bring more to the table…

Shade is one very original ghost story. In this world, kids and teens can see ghosts, those purple reflection of deceased people. You can’t see them in the light, but they are there. They are afraid of the color red (guess what’s the HOT color this season? or lifetime?) and obsidian. But ghosts aren’t the worst “things” out there. Shades are. Angry ghosts, soulless, able to go anywhere at anytime and their presence make all post-Shifters physically sick.

I really loved this completely different world Jeri built for us. It leaves room for great originality and the lore is amazing. Unfortunately we don’t get all the answers in this book, and I am looking forward to learn about the big Why. Why did the Shift happen? Why can children now see ghosts? Why some of them turn Shade? Why do they fear red? Why?

I also loved Shade’s characters. Colorful, unique and so representative of teenage hood. Uncertainties, peers pressure, grief but also parties, friendship, sex, love. Jeri managed to blend in all those real emotions in her fictional world and make it work perfectly. How do you move on when the love of your life dies? I really felt for Aura, she was crushed by her boyfriend’s death, peer fingers pointing at her, accusing her, spreading rumors. Her devastation was skillfully painted. Logan was really special, future rock-star, full of life (well at the beginning at least), and such a Diva. Even death couldn’t kill his love of the crowd, he wanted one last standing ovation. Zachary supported Aura the entire book, giving her his support but also space when she needed it, he was a perfect gentleman.

I would like to share a little excerpt with you guys, it’s not spoilerish so fear not!

A hole opened up inside me, so raw I had to curl up on my side away from his light, pulling my good knee to my chest to ease the ache. The hole gaped so big it seemed like I could crawl inside, let the darkness swallow all thoughts of the future that once stretched before us. We had lost forever.

This quote, and the moments before it really touched me, Jeri really has a talent to put raw emotions into words, it’s amazing.

The end was also quite intense, I really can’t wait for the second book!

All in all, this book is a great YA debut for the author. Great lore, fantastic characters and an insane talent with words, Paranormal YA lovers should definitely pick-up this book!